FRIEBIKER

Scenic route · CIRCULAR · Faro

Barrocal loop: Loulé, Salir and Alte

A loop through the Algarve's Barrocal, between the coast and the hills: Querença, Salir, Alte and Paderne, back to Loulé on quiet roads.

69 km
DISTANCE
1 h 49 min
RIDING
284 m
HIGHEST POINT
49 m
LOWEST POINT
134
CURVES
1
HAIRPINS

19.5 curves every 10 km. Curves counted on the line: sections that turn 25° or more; hairpins, 135° or more on a tight radius. Junctions and roundabouts are left out.

Altitude profile49–284 m

The loop starts and ends in Loulé. It heads north to Querença, a small village on a hilltop, continues to Salir and turns west to Alte, one of the best-known villages of the inland Algarve. It then drops towards Paderne and Boliqueime and returns to Loulé.

The Barrocal is the band of limestone hills between the coast and the mountains: almond, carob and olive trees, stone walls and white villages, with little traffic compared with the coast. It crosses the municipalities of Loulé and Albufeira.

It is about 69 km and almost two hours without stops, with some 130 gentle bends. Altitude ranges from about 50 m to about 280 m. It is a ride to take slowly and stop in the villages.

Route

  1. Loulé
  2. →Querença
  3. →Salir
  4. →Alte
  5. →Paderne
  6. →Boliqueime
  7. →Loulé

Roads: EN 124, ER 124, ER 270, EN 396, EN 270, CM 1354, EM 510, CM 1187, EM 525

Where it goes

Districts

  • Faro

Protected areas

  • Caldeirão
  • Barrocal
  • Zona de Proteção Especial do Caldeirão

Municipalities

  • Loulé
  • Albufeira

Best time

All year round; in late winter, with the almond trees in blossom, it is especially pretty.

Before you go

  • The local roads are narrow and lined with walls: ease off in the bends.
  • There is more traffic near Loulé and Boliqueime.
  • FRIEBIKER's speed-camera warnings only cover Spain (DGT data): there are none in Portugal, so watch the signs.
  • You are in Portugal and its traffic rules apply. Inside the EU you need nothing special, but carry your own and the bike's documents.

Route chosen by FRIEBIKER. Distance and time calculated for motorcycles, avoiding motorways, without stops. Always check the road conditions. © OpenStreetMap.

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